Schuyler Square Day 88 Who's Spooking Who?

"I don't really know how to have a seance," DeeDee told Mindy Cooper. "I mean, I've seen them on t.v. but I've never actually been to one. Have you?"

Mindy shook her head. "No, but how hard can it be? We get a Ouija board, light a couple of candles and voom! We have Mary Austin front and center, spilling the beans on who offed her."

DeeDee didn't understand young people. They were always so casual about everything--even murder-- and Mindy Cooper was no exception. Mindy seemed to see everything that happened in Schuyler Square as either unimportant or fodder for that sensational newspaper she edited. "Don't you think we ought to invite a few more people?"

"I already invited Chelsea and Kirk and Tom Hartman," Mindy informed her. "Oh, and Veronica Chandler."

"Who is Tom Hartman?"

"He's dating Veronica Chandler. I ran into him at the bakery. Very cute for an older guy. I asked him if he wanted to join us and he said 'sure.'"

Mindy was making this seance sound more like a social event than a creepy, supernatural thing that they probably shouldn't be doing. "I'm starting to feel a little uneasy about this," she began.

"Don't be ridiculous," Mindy ordered. "It's going to be fine. Do you think your husband would like to join us?"

"I don't think so," DeeDee said, remembering Steve's reaction when she'd told him about the seance. He'd told her in no uncertain terms that she was nuts and that he wanted no part in anything that involved a Ouija board. "He said he'll be at the library while we're trying to contact Mary Austin."

Mindy shrugged. "Whatever. All right, I'll be back around eight and we'll get set up. We should have the seance in the living room, right where Mary died. I've heard that spirits are most active in the spot where they left this world."

DeeDee shivered. She was liking this whole thing less and less. "Maybe I'll just watch," she said.

"Whatever. We have plenty of people without you. Of course," Mindy added with a sly look, "I don't know that I'd want to sit off on the sidelines in the dark alone while the rest of us are sitting around a table holding hands. Who knows what might reach out and grab you?"

Mindy was right. Anything might reach out and grab her while she was sitting there in the dark. "Never mind. I'll sit with you guys."

"Suit yourself. And would you please get that scared look off your face? What the heck do you think can happen during a seance? Ghosts can't hurt anyone. I'm heading to Wal-mart for a Ouija board. I'll see you later." Mindy was out DeeDee's kitchen door before she had a chance to say good-bye. DeeDee headed for the front hall closet where she kept the vacuum cleaner. She wanted everything to look nice for the seance.

"Dear God, what am I saying? I'm getting ready for a seance! I've crossed the line into complete lunacy!"

A loud crash from the living room made her jump. With a sinking heart, DeeDee knew exactly what to expect. Something else broken in front of the fireplace, right where Mary Austin had died. Maybe this seance wasn't such a crazy idea after all since someone--or something--seemed to be trying to get their attention.